Perspective

It is that time of year again. The curtain closes on 365 days of my life and I, like many others, look back on where I have been.

In January 2017, I selected "conscious" as my focus word for the year and I tried to use it as a guide. I was conscious about thinking before I spoke (and sometimes deciding NOT to speak), conscious about my money and how I spent it, and conscious about my relationships with others and how I decided to nurture them. The word served me well!

As I sit here on the threshold of the next 365 days I once again tried to pick the perfect word- that one little word that would help me to ground me and guide me. This meant looking ahead to the things I already KNOW will happen: selling our house, leaving my job, finding a new house, finding a new job, watching my son embark on his own life outside of our family home, rejoicing with my daughter as she graduates college, takes the NCLEX, and gets married.

Many people facing all of this would have selected the word "change" as their One Little Word, but I did not want to focus on the changes. Instead, I want to focus on how I deal with them. I do not want to allow myself to get bogged down in what COULD BE. Rather, I want to focus on what ACTUALLY IS. Because of this, my word for 2018 is PERSPECTIVE.

I want to keep the changes in my life in perspective, focusing on the possibilities rather than the immediate impact. I want to look for the bright spot at the end of the storm, not the thunder claps and lightning bolts. As the changes require decisions, I want to take the time to truly examine my choices and look at the possibilities from all perspectives. And most importantly of all, I want to consider God's perspective- what does HE want for me, for my family, and for my future?

Though 2018 is very "fuzzy" now, I am certain that my perspective will become clearer as the days of the New Year go on.

What about you? Do you have One Little Word that you have selected for the new year? I would love for you to share it with us!  Post a comment below and tell us a bit about it. If you care to, you can even follow my blog as I post updates regularly. We can all offer support to one another as the year goes on and we truly welcome our word into our lives. Just go over to the right and become a follower!

Blessings Unexpected

I have always been one of those people with a giving hand and heart. I was raised with Luke 6:35 as my guide....

"But love ye your enemies, and do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest..."

Last week I received one of those unexpected rewards.

Last year I saw Kari struggling through finals in her second semester of nursing school and I really wanted to do something to help. I realized very quickly that it was not just her struggling; it was likely her fellow nursing class peers. Knowing that students spent hours pouring over notes and books, particularly for finals, I decided that I would do my part to keep their sugar and energy levels high and I created my first massive "candy bar cake". It was welcomed by them with many smiles and thanks.

I decided at that point that I wanted to make it a kind of tradition to do something for finals each semester and began plotting and planning for the Christmas winter finals round. I searched through Pinterest and found an adorable stocking made from nurse scrubs. It was then that I decided it would be my Christmas finals gift to them. I gathered together enough scrub tops and material to create 24 stockings, enough for each student, teacher, and office worker in the nursing building with a couple left over.

When the stockings were finished I stuffed them with "nursing survival kits", packed them up in a large box and sent them back with Kari after Thanksgiving break.

I sat at home, smiling my little smile, and waiting to hear what they all thought. I never expected what was to come. When Kari came home she had hardly made it in the door when she said, "The nursing students got together and sent you something." She then handed me a beautiful gift box. I opened it where I discovered this beautiful sweatshirt and a $50 gift card to Jo-Ann's Fabrics. She went on to explain that they just wanted to thank me for taking an interest in them and caring about them. It touched me so much that I actually cried.

I did things for them because I truly cared and understood the stress that they were feeling, since I had seen it in my own daughter. I did not expect anything in return. The kindness shown by this group of strangers truly touched my heart! The warmth and love I felt mirrored back to me in this gesture was my true gift and reward!

At this time of year I would like to ask you to think about the people around you who just need a little something to brighten their days and lives. How can YOU do some little selfless act for them? Give without expecting something in return. The reward that you do receive will be the BEST GIFT EVER!

Caring Hearts

If you know me very well, you know that I am always searching for yet another project. As soon as I finish one, I try to find the "next thing" to which I can dedicate some time.

Very rarely, I come across a project that just begs, "Do me NOW!" Today I found one such project and I am hoping that some of you will join me on this one!

I had just finished creating a video playlist on YouTube for an upcoming school presentation and I decided to reward myself by spending a few minutes watching some crafting videos. It was while watching a Jennifer McGuire video that I learned about a yearly card event called "Caring Hearts Card Drive".

In a nutshell, people from across North America and Australia create cards and send them to the organizing group. These cards are then distributed to people who live in nursing homes. Having visited a nursing home many times when my mother worked in one, I know firsthand that many of the people there do not have regular visitors. They crave any little bit of contact they can get with someone from the "outside". Just a kind word, a minute holding their hand, a smiling face, and even a tiny little card can really brighten up their day.

This card drive is running from October 2 to November 17. All cards must be received at the group headquarters by November 17. This year they are requesting that you make cards with a Christmas or winter holiday wish only. (For more of the specific instructions and for the submission form that must accompany your cards, go to Jennifer's blog at the link below.)

Want More Details? Go HERE

I know that I have many crafty friends out there. Some of you who do not consider yourselves to be "crafty" even work with group of others such as BETA Clubs or church groups. This kind of project is the PERFECT one for all of you to unite and join in efforts. Maybe your organization can have a card making party and then send in all of the completed cards together as one!

I only wish that I had discovered this opportunity earlier. I still have several days to get creative and make a BUNCH of cards to include in this project! Won't you join me?

Your participation in this project WILL be rewarded! You are sure to feel that warm tug of the heart that I always get when I do something like this. As if that isn't enough, the Card Drive has also assembled a variety of prizes that will be given to some of the lucky people who make and send in cards. (More information on that can be found at the link above also.)

I cannot wait to see how many of you commit to participate! Get creative and give from the bottom of your caring heart!

Don't Spill the Beans

I may be showing my age a bit here, but who out there remembers THIS game? 

Growing up, it was one of my favorites. I loved to play it with my brothers, stacking the beans on top, one by one, awaiting that moment when a player would finally place one too many beans on the stack and the pot would tilt and overturn, spilling everything all over the table top. 

I had not really thought about the game much. It was just one of those fun little tidbits from my childhood tucked away in my memory. Then, this week, the game took on a whole new significance for me personally. 

My life for the past couple of months has felt much like that bean pot- duty after duty, appointment after appointment, personal stress on top of personal stress. Instead of the fun game from my childhood, I found myself wondering what little thing life would throw at me that would finally be the ultimate "pot-spill" moment. What would cause me to crash to the ground emotionally? Well, this weekend that pot spilled!

A couple of months ago my husband broke his foot- his right foot- his driving foot- and that has meant that I am doing all of the driving, getting myself to work and taxiing him to his many meetings and appointments. The foot is still in a boot and is healing very slowly. As a result, it looks like I could have several more weeks of taxi duty. I also recently took on a part time job at the local elementary, a position funded through grant money and working with early childhood literacy. My daughter is in the midst of a stressful senior year of nursing school and has required some hand-holding and attention and my mother suffers from dementia. My father is her full-time care giver, but when he needs to do something out of the home, I am the one called upon to come and take care of her. The cherry on top of the whole emotional sundae is the upcoming marriage of my daughter, next August. With her in college, I am doing a lot of the "grunt work" and I am also spending spare time crocheting items to sell to help make some of the money to pay for the wedding. 

Then Friday, the final bean got placed on top of the pot- my maternal grandparent's house burned, likely by arson. My mother and father had inherited the property in February when my aunt died and Dad has been working diligently to clear it out and get it ready to sell. We had encountered some legal issues and have been working through those, but we could not get them resolved quickly enough. The house was a total loss. Already ill with bronchitis and faced with the burning of that property and the emotional trauma, I suffered my personal crash. 

I found myself emotionally and physically drained, crying to a friend and pouring out my woes. God used her in that moment. She took my hand, wrapped an arm around me, and began praying for me. With each word from her mouth, my sobs calmed a bit, my breathing eased, and my weight began lifting. God's calming spirit began filling me and I knew that I could go on. My personal "beanpot" had been uprighted- empty for now. Yes, life will begin filling it again, bean by bean, but I can always count on God to help me find my balance and come through. 

Isaiah 41:13 says, 

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you."

God used my friend as an earthly answer for the comfort I needed in that moment, but I need to remember that I can always call on him to offer that emotional comfort when I need it. When I find myself off-kilter and unbalanced because of life's many stresses, I need to remember to pause a moment, take a breath, and seek God's help. He can and will help me through!

When Life Throws You Hurdles

I spent the day with my daughter at her latest college track meet. She has been running track for the last eight or nine years. Over the course of her career, the majority of the events that she participated in were simple running events, though she did spend a season or two doing hurdles back in high school.

Recently, Kari's life has been filled with struggles and anxiety. As a junior nursing student she faces the daily struggle of too many chapters to read, difficult material, and frequent tests. This all comes on top of an already full schedule of track practices, weight sessions, and meets.

The past two weeks, in particular, have been difficult ones, with her dad and I getting frequent calls and texts. We have talked with her, advised her, been there to just listen, and - most importantly- prayed for her.

Then, her coach recently decided that she would need to run the steeplechase event at today's meet. (For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this event, allow me to explain. The steeplechase is a 3000 meter event in which the participant rounds the track, jumping 35 barriers over the course of the entire race, including a barrier with a water hazard. To give you an idea of how long the race is- today's race involved 7.5 laps around the college track with 5 barriers in each lap.)

For the past week, Kari has thought about, talked about, and stressed about this event. After all, she had several hurdles to overcome (pardon the pun). Her college does not have an actual track where she can practice, so she had never run the full 3000 meters with barriers. She also had never encountered an actual water hazard, though she had seen one at previous years' meets. Furthermore, she had not done any type of hurdle event since early high school.

Today, Kari conquered those hurdles!

When she came to a hurdle she found a way to get over it and when she landed in the water (2.5 feet deep at the lowest side) she climbed her way out and kept running! It wasn't perfect hurdle form, but she did get over them!

As I watched her make her way around that track, crossing each hurdle, and rounding each lap, I also hoped that it would help her learn a much deeper life lesson. Just as she was able to conquer these literal hurdles that were in her path, so can she conquer the hurdles that life throws her way.

She is not the only student I know who is struggling at this point in the school year. The last month of the semester is always filled with that PUSH to finish the material in the necessary chapters. This means more tests, more assignments, and an often overloaded schedule. These can all be potential hurdles that prevent a student from finishing the school year in a strong way. When this happens, DON'T give up! DON'T fret and worry! Just keep on plugging along, working at a steady pace, and continuing to do your best. You CAN overcome! When life throws you hurdles- just keep working to get over them, giving of your very best!

What's Up Wednesday

I have not posted in a while because I have been busy, busy, busy!

Over the past year, my craft room has become more of a "pile" room. I found myself sewing more and working on my paper crafts less and less, primarily due to the fact that I did not have a good desktop surface to work on. Years ago, my father built a nice L-shaped desk for me, but with technology increases, the desktop quickly became covered. Now that I have a wireless printer and a wireless computer, I have the potential to move things around, if I had the space. The desk that he built for me was truly built in- no moving that thing.

I have been saving my money from crochet projects and have accumulated enough that I can actually think about a trip to IKEA to buy new furniture- furniture that I can actually move and manipulate to fit my space better.

With retirement, I actually have the time to begin weeding through things and emptying the room out. When Kari went back to college for the spring semester I asked her if it would be ok for me to use her bedroom as a "holding room" for everything while I tear out, paint, and purchase everything. She kindly agreed. (It is probably a good thing that she does not come home very often because she certainly could not get to her bed right now. LOL!)

I am excited about the potential that lies before me, but I am anxious too. I know that I am going to have to part with some of my wonderful stash- but I am finding good homes for it! In case you were not aware, the Owsley County High School now has a "Make It" Lab that enables students to use their creativity to show their knowledge. I have already filled a box or two that will be going to the lab and will definitely have more before this creative journey is done. If you find yourself with paper, cloth, glue, beads, or anything that might be used for creative projects, contact Megan Bowling at the High School. I am sure that she and the students will be able to put your cast-offs to good use!

Over the coming month I will share updates about my progress. When I am not ashamed of the mess, I will begin posting photos. For now, there is not much to see, other than boxes and stacks of stuff. Expect another update in a week or so- hopefully by then I can share a photo of the empty room.

Who Controls the Ocean

This morning I was reminded that God could speak to us in his own way and in his own time. I was awakened from one of the best night's sleep that I have in a very long time by a dream. I have no doubt that it was God speaking to me.

In the dream, Glenn and I were talking about how our life just wasn't the same now that the kids were grown. We were reminiscing about the trips that we had taken, the little things that we had done as a family, and all the things that the two of us had planned for our family to do when the children were growing up. We also discussed how the times that we do spend with the kids is different and how much of that time is spent helping them work through their first real "adult" things rather than enjoying experiences. We also talked about our own lives and how more of time is being spent on the daily struggles of life, rather than relaxation and down time.

In the last scene of the dream I said, "It just isn't fun anymore. It is like we are just bobbers floating on an ocean." It was then that I heard a voice in the dream say, "But remember who controls the ocean." At that instant I was awakened.

A Bobber? How in the world did my slumbering mind come up with that? I am not now, nor have I ever been a fisherman. Sure, when I was little I went fishing a time or two with my grandfather, but I definitely did not take an affinity to it. Besides, we don't normally fish in an ocean either, so why did the voice mention that?

Looking back now, I think that I was being my usual self- worrying about my children and their stability as well as our own personal stresses that life throws at us. Kari has just gone back to college to begin her sixth semester and she is sure to encounter more turmoil and stress. She has certainly had a lot of that during the first five! Keenan has just completed his first full year of "adulthood", having graduated college and found his first full-time stable job. Yet, he has already been in this new "adult world" long enough to have his eyes opened to some of the many issues that adults must deal with. As for me, I still find my time being encroached upon by things like debt and personal obligations. I suppose that I do often feel like a bobber floating away on the surface of the water, just waiting for that time when I can actually grasp back control.

And then there is the voice...... the voice reminding me who it is that controls those waters of life. It is so easy to forget that God is always there. He truly is the one in control. In Isaiah 41:10 it says,

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

That voice in my dream was God speaking to me, reassuring me that I do not need to fear or worry about the storms of life. Yes, we will be tumbled and tossed, yes there are times when we may even feel ourselves being pulled down below the surface, but God can calm those waters and restore our lives to a more stable feeling. He is the one who controls the ocean of life and I just need to remember to seek him out and call upon his name!

What's Up Wednesday

Hello again!

I wanted to take a minute to share a couple of projects that I have finished in the last month or two. This week I started working on a sewing project for a customer and suddenly found myself with a sewing machine that wasn't cooperating. Tomorrow, Glenn is going to take it to the repair shop so I can get it fixed and then get back to work. (Don't you hate it when you are ready to get your craft on and something goes wrong?)

Finding myself without a sewing machine, I spent some time crocheting. A customer had recently requested a stuffed cow. I had not attempted this particular animal, but I knew I could give it a shot. I was really pleased with the results, though I do wish that I had a craft store nearby where I could find a tiny cowbell to hang around her neck.

I have also started the process of sorting and purging my craft supplies. I posted a bunch of stamps on a website, but have only sold one set so far. I am hoping that I can get rid of some more because I know I need the space and it will also give me less stuff to sort through when I redo my craft room.

I could use some inspiration as far as organizing goes..... so..... if any of you are very good "spacial" thinkers who love to organize things and/or play around with interior design, I am very open to suggestions! You can refer me to a website, share pics, or..... come on by and help me clear out and redo!

Clearing Out

I have just begun the process of sorting through my crafting materials, in preparation for emptying out and reorganizing my craft space. We took my daughter back to college yesterday and, before she left, I asked if it would be ok for me to use her bedroom as the "parking area" for all of my stuff temporarily.

Though I am looking forward to having a finished, organized space where I can locate my materials and actually make things, I am not looking forward to the sorting/purging process. Over the years I have accumulated a LOT of stuff! At the time that I bought each item I am sure that I really felt I had a need for it, but now..... not so much.

It suddenly hit me today that our life can be the same way. We go through life and try a lot of things, accumulating habits, friends, and stuff. At the time, we felt we really needed them I am sure, but along the way we grow, mature, and goals change. Sometimes we need to stop and sort through things- getting rid of the things that no longer help us achieve the goal before us. We may really enjoy checking Facebook regularly to see what is going on in the lives of others, but if it is keeping us from spending time in God's word or with family, then we need to consider purging that habit. If we have a friend who is negative about things constantly, belittling others for their efforts, purposes it is time to consider spending less time with that person, while praying for them MORE. 

I told you in my last post that my word for the year is "conscious". I guess that I have just been becoming more conscious of what I spend my time doing. I am trying to be more deliberate with the things that I allow to fill my calendar- less time on things like television and computers and more time reading and studying the Bible, praying, and really BEING with those who matter. I think we could all benefit from that!

Five Minute Friday- Connect

This week's word for Five Minute Friday is Connect and it is so appropriate! Ready...... here I go!

Since I have retired I noticed that I spend a lot of my time feeling disjointed and separated from everyone that I typically assoicate with. Even when I am visiting with my teacher friends, I somehow feel like I do not really belong there. I have also noticed that I have lost some of my connection with God. It is because of this that I selected my word for the year- CONSCIOUS.

My goal is to be to more conscious about what I spend my time on, actually being deliberate in my choices. I have set aside time each morning to connect with God through Bible reading. I am participating in a chronological read-through along with several other women on Facebook. I am reading and praying over God's word and trying to allow him to speak to me during this time.

I am also trying to be more conscious when I am with friends and family. I want to really BE PRESENT and connect with them- not just spend time with them. I want our time together to be valuable for both them and me, actually helping to strengthen our personal connections.

Lastly, I am being more conscious about my money. I am working diligently to pay down some of our debt that has accumulated over the years. I will make a little extra money each month by substitute teaching and I am setting that aside to go straight toward some of that debt. I have created a spreadsheet on the computer and I am tracking progress each month in order to help me further be conscious of my progress and to give myself some encouragement. Because I know that I also will want to spend a little, I have made a separate account for my "play" money. This is money that I started saving last year from my crochet and crafting hobby. I am adding to that whenever I make a sale, small though it may be. When the time is right, I plan to reward myself by taking some of that money and using it to redo my craft space, in the hopes that I can be more productive with my hobby and that I can reconnect with my creative side, something that has suffered in the past few years.

I hope to update everyone via this blog on a regular basis and use it to help make me accountable for my personal progress. Please come back and stay in touch. Check in to see how I am doing and give me a pat on the back or a word of chastisement, whichever might be appropriate. I would also love to hear your word for the year, if you choose to share.

Out With the Old.... In With the New

Every year it happens... December 31 rolls around and people say to themselves, "The new year will be different." Resolutions are made and goals are set. Unfortunately, it doesn't take very long for those goals to get set aside and forgotten.

This time last year I did much the same. I was looking ahead to June of 2016 and retirement, knowing that this major life event would change my life and begin my next adventure. It was about this same time when I discovered something online called a "temperature blanket". In a nutshell, people would set up a color spectrum to represent temperature ranges and would use that spectrum to create a unique blanket representing the yearly temperatures for a given area.  Knowing that I would have some extra time on my hands and wanting to try something new, I decided to give it a go.

I created my spectrum, purchased my yarn, located a website where I could get daily temperatures for my area and set about the task of creating my own work of art. Within a month or two, my blanket was growing and so was my excitement. I decided that I wanted to make this project into my own service project. (More about that later.)

I kept up my crocheting and yesterday, January 1, I found myself putting in the marathon task of finishing off the blanket. With each stitch I found myself thinking back over 2016 and the things that I had faced during the year. I also found myself looking forward to 2017 and what I planned for it. (Check back later in the week to find out about those plans.)

First, allow me to introduce you to the temperature blanket for 2016, Booneville, KY:

The blanket is made of 2 panels. The first panel simply displays the year and a "thermometer" gauge that shows my color spectrum. The other panel contains 390 squares. Each square represents the average daily temperature for Booneville, KY. Temperatures were obtained from an online data chart from the OCHS WeatherBug. The white squares separate the months.

Some of the squares contain tiny "emblems" representing the major holidays. (Here you can see the Halloween witch hat and the Christmas tree.) The finished blanket is truly a one of a kind piece!

Now.... back to how this blanket becomes part of a service project.

As I was working on this blanket I really came to enjoy what I was doing. I looked forward to checking the temperatures each morning, crocheting the block, and seeing how the blanket progressed. I was having so much fun with the project that I knew I wanted to continue making these blankets each year, but I was not sure what I would do with them. I certainly couldn't keep them all!

Surely someone out there had some reason to think of 2016 as "special" or "meaningful". Maybe a baby was born that year. Maybe they experienced a milestone life event: marriage, graduation, or milestone birthday. Whatever the reason, surely someone would see the unique meaning behind this blanket and want to welcome it into their home.

It was then that an idea struck! With retirement I would be leaving the Owsley County School System, but I wanted to maintain my contact with it, because it had been such a large part of my life. What if I donated the finished blanket to a school group to auction off?

Well.... the blanket is done and the time has come to decide which group gets the blanket.  I want to donate the blanket to a group from Owsley County High School who needs the proceeds and is willing to do whatever work is necessary to get the funds. I know from personal experience that some groups already do a lot of fundraising or have a flow of money from other funds or sources. The group can be a club or organization or it could be an actual class such as the freshemen, sophomores, etc.

In order to make that decision, I want YOUR help. I am asking you to tell me which group you think I should donate the blanket to and why that group is deserving.  I will take suggestions through next Monday, January 9. At that time, my family and I will read through all of the suggestions and will ultimately decide which group will receive the blanket. I look forward to reading through all of the comments. Feel free to share this blog post with others so they can also make suggestions. Sometimes there is power in numbers!

Oh...... just in case you are wondering.... I already have my yarn for the 2017 blanket and I am ready to begin work on it today!